The star-studded production of Oscar Wilde's Salome: The Reading officially opens at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre April 30.

Al Pacino in Oscar Wilde's Salome: The Reading.
Photo by Joan Marcus

Academy Award winner Al Pacino heads the cast as King Herod, playing opposite the Salome of another Oscar winner, Marisa Tomei. The company also includes Dianne Wiest and David Strathairn with Timothy Altmeyer, Jill Alexander, Daryl Dismond, Timothy Doyle, Robert Heller, Owen Hollander, Bob Lavelle, Chris McGarry, Ed Setrakian and Kevin Stapleton. The production is being termed a reading, since actors will use scripts “at certain points during the show.”

Produced by Robert Fox, Daryl Roth and Amy Nederlander, Salome, which was originally set to run through June 7, extended its run through June 14. The production features direction by Estelle Parsons and original music by Yukio Tsuji. The remainder of the creative team comprises Peter Larkin (set design), Jane Greenwood (set design), Howard Thies (lighting design) and Erich Brechtel and David Schnirman (sound design).

Pacino, who spent the fall in the National Actors Theatre's production of The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, took part in a reading of Salome this past November and December at Brooklyn's St. Ann's Warehouse.

Salome, a tale of desire and revenge, follows the legend of King Herod and his lust for Salome, his young stepdaughter, and her sexual baiting of John the Baptist. Pacino also starred in the 1992 production of the Wilde play at Circle in the Square Theatre.

Al Pacino made his Broadway debut in the 1969 production of Does a Tiger Wear Necktie?, earning a Tony Award for his performance. He scored another Tony for his role in the 1977 revival of The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel. The stage and film actor was last on Broadway in 1996 in a revival of Hughie, which he also directed. Pacino's other Broadway credits include Camino Real, King Richard III, American Buffalo, Chinese Coffee and Salome. He received the Academy Award for his work in the film "Scent of a Woman" and starred in the recent motion picture, "Simone." Salome will play Monday through Saturday evenings at 8 PM with Saturday matinees at 2 PM. Tickets are priced between $25 and $85. Beginning March 28, call Telecharge at (212) 239-6200 or log on to www.telecharge.com. The Ethel Barrymore Theatre is located at 243 West 47th Street.